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The EU Commission has developed contingency plans for a No Deal Brexit. Image: EU Commission

A set of plans intended to mitigate the effects of a potential No Deal Brexit have been presented by European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella.

These plans, tabled by the European Commission in January, were agreed in record time by Member States and European Parliament at the end of March.
According to the Commissioner, this underscores that the EU stands shoulder to shoulder with its fishermen, and he commented that the Commission has taken measures to mitigate the impact on fisheries in case of a no-deal Brexit.
‘The Commission is working closely with the Member States concerned to ensure a co-ordinated management by Member States of their fleets that would have to leave UK waters. This is to avoid excessive fishing pressure and possible disputes in EU waters,’ he said.
This first preparatory measure amends the Regulation on the Sustainable Management of the External Fleets, with the aim of creating the appropriate legal framework for continued reciprocal fishing access by EU and United Kingdom vessels to each other’s waters during 2019, provided the UK grants such access for EU vessels.
The second measure allows fishermen and operators from EU Members States to receive compensation for the temporary cessation of fishing activities, due to Brexit, under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
‘We have amended our European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. It now allows EU Member States to give financial support to their vessels, which depend significantly on access to UK waters, and which would have to temporarily stop their fishing activities. Member States can also give State aid for these purposes under the same conditions,’ Karmenu Vella said.
‘We are also prepared for a situation, in which – despite a no-deal Brexit – the EU and the UK would decide to continue to give access to each others’ waters. We have adopted new rules, which substantially simplify the procedure for EU vessels to get an authorisation to fish in UK waters, and vice versa. Finally, we have adopted a notice on the consequences of a no-deal Brexit, which helps stakeholders prepare for a withdrawal without an agreement.’
He stressed that the Commission’s overall objective is to secure a future relationship that preserves the health of our shared marine resources and enables coastal communities on both sides of the water to thrive.
‘But we have also prepared for a situation, where we would need to support our fishermen through the difficulties that may result from a loss of access to UK waters,’ Karmenu Vella said.

The EU Commission has issued a Brexit Contingency Plan, agreed with affected Member States, setting out how fisheries would be managed in a No Deal Brexit

The EU Commission has issued a Brexit Contingency Plan, agreed with Ireland and seven other affected Member States, which sets out how fisheries would be managed in a No Deal Brexit. Fisheries is recognised as one of the most immediately critical issues facing the EU in a no-Deal Brexit.

‘This communication reflects the high level of planning by Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden working closely with DG Mare,’ commented Ireland’s minister of fisheries Michael Creed.
‘When I met Commissioner Vella last February, I emphasised the real risks of a concentration of fishing into Ireland’s 200 miles fishing zone by EU fleets if they are excluded from UK waters. I pointed out that inevitably this would lead to displacement of our own fleet and depletion of fish stocks if no action is taken.’

The Communication sets down the preparations in the EU, agreed with the eight Member States directly affected, in the event of a no-Deal Brexit. It identifies the need for mitigation measures and in particular compensation for temporary tie up of fishing vessels. It gives the EU Commission a strong co-ordination role.
‘I stressed to the Commissioner the need for a European approach to addressing this issue and agreed with him that the key Member States and DG Mare needed to put in place a contingency plan. I have been working intensively over recent weeks, and have kept the fishing industry informed of the work to ensure that we are ready for this worst case situation, while always hoping that we will never need to call upon these plans.’
He said that measures have been identified and agreed, co-ordinated and fully prepared that will be immediately available to address a no-Deal Brexit situation, if the UK were to decide to deny EU vessels access to UK waters.
‘I am seeking additional EU funds to support this mitigation measure if they become necessary. If we need to call on these arrangements, it will be essential, as we have now agreed at EU level, that all involved EU fleets must co-operate under these structured arrangements to manage the situation. We have now agreed that the Irish fleet would not be disproportionately impacted and have ensured that each Member State impacted would take a fair share of the pain,’ Michael Creed said.

How superb was John rys Davies. Finally someone on the panel who has the pulse of the people RT @bbcquestiontime: ‘You have betrayed democracy’
Actor John Rhys-Davies criticises politicians’ handling of Brexit. #bbcqt